The Cochrane Generals won a big game against their rivals the Airdrie Thunder.

The two teams usually give the crowd a good show when they meet and this was no exception, especially for the home Cochrane fans, who got to see their team win a big game. The Generals won 5-2 at the Spray Lakes Family Centre on Nov. 18.

The win put the Generals at 9-8-0, after a disappointing loss to Stettler on Nov. 17 when they lost 7-2.

The Heritage Junior Hockey League (HJHL) is wide open this year, especially in the South Conference. Cochrane (18 points), who are in fifth place in the South are 7 points back of first-place Okotoks (25 points) with a game in hand.

Most of the goals scored in the game against Airdrie occurred in the first-period; six in total. The Thunder started the scoring just 1:34 into the first, but Cochrane quickly responded 10 seconds later with a goal from River Ross. The Thunder then took the lead again, until about five minutes left in the period where Cochrane scored two quick goals and it was once again River Ross and Generals leading scorer Slater Ransom. Taylor Girard then scored with a 1:13 remaining.

“They came out pretty strong and we took note of a few things they were trying to do and how they were trying to gain speed through the neutral zone,” said Generals coach Derek Donald.

“We tried to make some adjustments to slow them down and we just wanted to keep the pressure on them.”

The rest of the game was quiet compared to the first when looking at the score sheet. Ransom got his second of the game in the second period and that settled the score at 5-2. The second was filled with penalties; 10 in total.

Erik Garber made 23 saves for the win.

This game and also the game against Stettler proved that any team can win on any given night in the HJHL. Airdrie is first-place in the North, while Stettler is only 5-8-2 on the season.

“Every game does matter for the most part,” said Donald.

“What we’re seeing is everyone seems to be beating each other and no one is running away from it in the South.”

“We looked like a different team against Airdrie, so we have to play more consistent.”

The coach went on to say that the game against Stettler was one of those games where things just didn’t go Cochrane’s way. They had scoring chances, but just couldn’t get it passed the opposing goalie.

The Generals will get a chance for revenge as they host Stettler on Nov. 24 at 7:30 p.m. at Spray Lakes Family Centre and then visit Medicine Hat on Nov. 25.

“These are two games we expect to win, and if we play like we did against Airdrie, I think we will be ok, said Stamp.